PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten’s President of Parliament, Sarah Wescot, recently returned to the island from Oslo, Norway, where she attended an IPCI conference, a gathering of more than 200 MPs, Ministers, VIPs, journalists, and observers.
Explaining the importance of the meeting in Oslo from April 8 -13th, MP Wescot stated that the last IPCI/ICPD was held six years ago in Ottawa, Canada. “As a member of the Steering Committee for preparing the conference in Oslo, I had traveled to Geneva in September of last year”, MP Wescot further explained.
In 2019, a high-level conference commemorated the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), which was held in Cairo in 1994.
The watershed 1994 ICPD in Cairo brought the global community together and reflected on a new consensus about the response to population growth. Delegates also reached a consensus on the inclusion of several issues in the Cairo document, including the relationship between population, environment, sustained economic growth and development; the empowerment of women, population aging; health and mortality, population distribution, urbanization, and internal migration; international migration; reproductive health and family planning; and partnership between Governments and NGOs.
The Oslo conference reviewed the past 30 years of ICPD implementation and resulted in a Statement of Commitment that will be distributed by UNFPA. UNFPA, along with the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, is a key partner of the IPCI/ICPD.
The aim of the IPCI is to mobilize and equip parliamentarians worldwide to actively participate in their country and region in promoting the SDGs as the path to sustainable development and universal human rights as the anchor of lasting development.
The Oslo conference review centered on the comprehensive health areas of the SDGs and on target 3.7 in particular, “Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, including the fundamental human rights related to sexuality and reproduction (SRHR)”.
“As a member of the Global Parliamentary Alliance for Health, Rights, and Development, I attended this conference personally as a parliamentarian and funded by the host organizations, however, it is good to note that the country Sint Maarten as a developing country is featured as a participant in these global conferences along with other small island developing states as well as large countries on all continents”, MP Wescot concluded.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday, April 20, 2024, at approximately 02:00 PM, the Police Force of Sint Maarten responded to a report of a suspected hit-and-run incident. A police patrol was dispatched to Front Street, where they discovered a male individual sitting on the sidewalk, exhibiting signs of injury, including a bleeding mouth and a swollen forehead. The man appeared to be heavily intoxicated and was barely able to communicate.

Information provided by bystanders indicates that the unknown male victim, under the influence of alcohol, was staggering and collided with one of the benches located on the sidewalk. This caused him to stumble onto the road, where he fell in front of a white taxi, striking the vehicle's front bumper.

The victim was disoriented and unable to provide his name verbally. Additionally, he did not possess any form of identification. Subsequently, he was transported to the Sint Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) by ambulance for further treatment. It was observed that the victim's injuries were not severe, but his level of intoxication was notable.

Later, the taxi driver, identified as R. J. G., was located, and a statement regarding the incident was taken from him.

The Traffic Department of the Police Force of Sint Maarten is investigating this incident thoroughly to determine the circumstances surrounding the Hit and Run.

KPSM Press Release.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) responded to reports of an explosion at a gray apartment complex in the Pointe Blanche area on Friday afternoon, April 19th, 2024, around 5:00 PM. Upon receiving multiple calls regarding the incident, several patrols, ambulances, and the Fire Department were swiftly dispatched to the scene.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the explosion occurred when one of the victims attempted to turn on the stove, resulting in a sudden and powerful blast. This unfortunate incident resulted in severe injuries to both individuals present in the dwelling. Immediate first aid was administered before the victims were transported to the medical center for further treatment.

As of the latest update, both victims were air-evacuated for further medical treatment.

The Police Force of Sint Maarten and the Fire Department are diligently working to investigate the cause of this accident.

KPSM Press Release.

PHILIPSBURG(DCOMM);--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) is urgently calling on residents to take and continue the necessary actions after every rainfall event to eliminate mosquito breeding sites to effectively minimize mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue.

Dengue can become a life-threatening illness and it is crucial for everyone to be aware of the symptoms and take the necessary precautions to prevent further mosquito breeding, and transmission of mosquito borne diseases.

People become infected with dengue virus when an infected Aedes Aegyptus or Aedes albopictus mosquito feed or bite them. Usually between four to seven (4-7) days after a bite of an infected mosquito people typically begin to show symptoms.

Persons with a fever and two or more of the following symptoms are suspected dengue cases and should be tested for confirmation: Nausea/vomiting; Rash; Myalgia/arthralgia (muscle/joint pain); Headache, retro-orbital pain (pain behind the eyes); and Petechiae (red/purple spots on skin); Leukopenia (decrease in number of white blood cells).
Source reduction is the key to decreasing the mosquito population. Due to the tropical nature of our climate, breeding habitats are in abundance, and many of them are, unfortunately, man-made.
Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a half-inch of water. This is not much, and plant saucers, bottle caps, or plastic shopping bags hidden amongst vegetation/shrubs are some of those unassuming places that can gather a small amount of water and can still be a huge breeding site for your mosquitoes.

Breeding sites include anywhere where water can settle or remain stagnant for a certain time, undisturbed from garbage to your flowers/plants. This includes tin cans, old tires, empty paint cans, buckets, old saucers, flowerpots, cemetery urns/vases, old pet dishes, unused plastic swimming pools, boats on dry dock, used food containers, plastic drinking cups, plastic shopping bags or other containers or plants that collect and hold water.

Source reduction starts by covering, removing, or turning over containers, artificial artifacts, unused boats which can be potential breeding sites and properly maintain the yard and surrounding by trimming overgrown vegetation. Every resident on the island should comply with the source reduction to have an impact against mosquitoes in the community.

A few tips/reminders: Get rid of any unused pots or bins or turn them upside down so they don’t collect water; Keep trash and recycling bins covered. If you can, try drilling drain holes into the bottom of unused containers; conduct a weekly assessment in and around your home, workplace, and even recreation venue; keep a fine-mesh screen over rain barrels, water tanks, and cistern outlets. Clean your rain spouts regularly so water can flow and not become stagnant; and properly remove or treat old unused tires.

In addition to eliminating mosquito breeding sites, weekly assess your home and workplace and eliminate the source. Use mosquito repellent to prevent the mosquitoes from feeding, follow the instructions on the product label. Aedes aegypti mosquito is attracted to dark spaces and clothing at dusk and dawn it is recommended to wear light coloured clothing during those times.
For issues surrounding mosquito breeding sites, contact CPS’ vector control team by calling 520-4161, 542-1222/1570, or 914.
Or by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with supporting pictures and contact information to report a mosquito nuisance or request assistance.